Cybercrime is escalating in Bangladesh, with a focus on defrauding women and children, who make up nearly 97% of the victims. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these fraudulent activities, as per reports from local authorities and intelligence sources.
These cybercriminals are increasingly targeting banking and financial data, raising concerns about financial fraud. Significant amounts of money are reportedly being channeled through Mobile Financial Services (MFS) accounts associated with online gambling platforms.
Police investigations reveal that a majority of girls and young women in Bangladesh, about three out of five, have encountered cyberbullying. Shockingly, almost 89% of victims choose not to report such incidents due to the fear of social stigma.
A report by a Bangladesh-based Cyber Support for Women and Children Platform highlighted that 97% of cyber violence victims in the first half of the previous year were women and children. This data was based on an examination of 29 cases of violence against women and children in the country since January 2025.
According to the Daily Sun, police records from the past five years show that 4,794 cases have been filed under Bangladesh’s Information and Pornography Control Act-2012, the Information and Communication Technology Act-2006, and the Digital Security Act-2018. However, the lack of a dedicated cybercrime unit poses a significant challenge in effectively investigating and resolving these cases.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir has identified cybercrime and the proliferation of online rumors as critical law enforcement issues in Bangladesh. He emphasized the increasing prevalence of offenses like online gambling, phishing, and dissemination of misinformation on social media platforms.
Law enforcement investigations indicate a concerning surge in cybercrime in Bangladesh, where the misuse of digital technology is exploited as a tool for criminal activities.
